Leadership feminin Prescott-Russell (LFPR) is pleased to see a significant increase in the number of women who have officially filed their candidacies for the 2026 municipal elections across the counties. A total of 31 women is running this year for the positions of municipal councillor and mayor, compared to 21 in the 2022 elections, representing an increase of nearly 50 per cent.
In addition to the positions of municipal councillor and mayor, eight women have filed their candidacies for positions as school board trustees or trustees of the Russell Police Village.
In total, 39 women are vying for one of the 65 available seats (52 municipal council seats across the eight municipalities, 10 school board trustees across the four school boards, and three Russell Police Village administrators) across the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. This increase reflects the growing interest of women in municipal politics and the importance of creating spaces that foster their participation in democratic life.
“Every conversation, every activity, and every word of encouragement helped build an environment where more women felt ready to take the plunge,” emphasized Marie-Noëlle Lanthier, Executive Director of LFPR.
Over the past few months, LFPR has increased opportunities for meetings, discussions, and networking to support women interested in municipal politics. The organization notably organized:
● Two networking events (5 to 7);
● Training for women interested in entering municipal politics;
● A networking dinner to foster exchanges between candidates and elected officials.
Throughout the campaign to increase women’s participation, LFPR representatives remained available to answer questions, provide information, and support women who wanted to better understand the realities of running for municipal office. While no single initiative can explain this significant increase, LFPR is convinced that the multiplication of concrete actions, sustained encouragement, regular reminders, and opportunities for dialogue has contributed decisively to this result. Since the opening of the nomination period on May 1, LFPR has also given more than a dozen interviews to radio and print media to emphasize the importance of equitable female representation in municipal politics. LFPR congratulates all the candidates who have chosen to put their expertise, vision, and leadership at the service of their community. Regardless of the election outcome, their commitment contributes to enriching municipal democracy and ensuring more diverse representation for the citizens of Prescott-Russell.
